Terms of
Service

By accessing this website, submitting an inquiry, booking a strategy call, or engaging Rook Media LLC ("Rook Media," "we," "us," or "our") for any service, you ("Client," "you," or "your") agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Acceptance of these Terms occurs through any of the following: (a) booking a strategy call or submitting an inquiry through our website; or (b) payment of any Rook Media invoice issued through Stripe or any other payment processor we use. Each invoice issued by Rook Media references these Terms of Service by URL. By submitting payment, you acknowledge that you have had the opportunity to review these Terms and agree to be bound by them in their entirety.

If you do not agree to these terms, you must not use this website or engage our services. These Terms of Service apply to all visitors, prospects, and clients of Rook Media LLC.

Rook Media reserves the right to update these terms at any time. Continued use of our services following any update constitutes your acceptance of the revised terms. We will notify active clients of material changes via email.

Rook Media LLC provides digital services exclusively for contractors and home-service businesses. Our current service offerings include:

• Custom Web Design and Build: Strategy, design, and development of a custom website tailored to the client's brand, market, and conversion goals. Includes mobile-first responsive design, all service, location, and portfolio pages, click-to-call and form conversion tools, Lead Assistant installation and configuration, Local SEO foundation, and domain setup and launch support.
• Managed Hosting and Maintenance: Cloud hosting, SSL maintenance, daily backups, security monitoring, and uptime monitoring delivered as part of the monthly retainer.
• Local SEO: On-page Local SEO foundation built into every website at launch, with ongoing local SEO health monitoring delivered as part of the monthly retainer. Local SEO is bundled into the website build and retainer and is not offered as a standalone service.
• Lead Capture and Lead Assistant: Lead capture tools and Lead Assistant configured and installed at project build, with ongoing maintenance, monitoring, and integration support delivered as part of the monthly retainer.
• Ongoing Support: Monthly content updates, new pages, design changes, monthly performance reports, and priority email and phone support for clients on an active retainer.

The specific scope, deliverables, and timeline for each engagement will be defined in a separate project proposal or service agreement provided to the client prior to work commencing. In the event of any conflict between these Terms of Service and a specific service agreement, the service agreement shall govern.

All fees are agreed upon in writing prior to project commencement. The following payment structure applies to our services:

• Project Deposit (50%): A non-refundable deposit equal to 50% of the total project fee is due before any design or development work begins. Work will not commence until the deposit is received and cleared.
• Final Payment (50%): The remaining 50% of the project fee is due and must be paid in full before the completed website is launched, transferred, or made publicly accessible. Rook Media reserves the right to withhold delivery until final payment is received.
• Monthly Retainer: Clients on managed hosting, Local SEO, Lead Capture, Lead Assistant, or ongoing support plans are billed on a recurring monthly basis. Monthly retainer billing begins at project completion and site launch, and is initiated alongside the final 50% project invoice. Retainer fees are charged automatically to the payment method on file at the start of each billing cycle until terminated per Section XI.
• Late Payments: Invoices not paid within 7 days of their due date may result in a suspension of active services until the outstanding balance is resolved. Rook Media reserves the right to assess a late fee of 1.5% per month on overdue balances.
• Payment Methods: All payments are processed through Stripe. We accept all major credit and debit cards. By providing payment information, you authorize Rook Media to charge the specified amounts to your payment method.

All fees are quoted in U.S. dollars. Clients are responsible for any applicable taxes, bank fees, or currency conversion charges.

A successful project requires active participation from the client. By engaging Rook Media, you agree to the following responsibilities:

• Timely Communication: Respond to requests for feedback, approvals, or materials within a reasonable timeframe (typically 5 business days). Delays caused by unresponsiveness may extend project timelines and are not the responsibility of Rook Media.
• Accurate Information: Provide accurate and complete information about your business, services, target market, and any existing digital assets required for the project.
• Content & Assets: Supply all necessary text content, images, logos, and other materials in a timely manner unless content creation has been explicitly included in your service agreement.
• Legal Compliance: Ensure that all materials you provide — including copy, images, and branding — do not infringe upon any third-party intellectual property rights and comply with applicable laws. You bear sole responsibility for the accuracy and legality of content you supply.
• Access & Credentials: Provide any necessary access (e.g., domain registrar, existing hosting, Google Business Profile) required to complete the project. Rook Media will handle such credentials with confidentiality.
• Review & Approval: You are responsible for thoroughly reviewing all deliverables and providing written approval before the project proceeds to the next phase or launches. Approval constitutes acceptance of that phase of work.

Ownership of deliverables and intellectual property is governed as follows:

• Client Ownership Upon Full Payment: Upon receipt of full payment for a project, Rook Media assigns to the client all rights, title, and interest in the final delivered website design and code specific to that project. The client owns their website outright.
• Client-Supplied Materials: All content, images, logos, trademarks, and other materials provided by the client remain the sole intellectual property of the client. By providing such materials, you represent and warrant that you have the right to use them and grant Rook Media a license to use them for the purpose of delivering your project.
• Rook Media Pre-Existing IP: Any tools, frameworks, libraries, design systems, code modules, or methodologies developed by Rook Media prior to or independently of the client project remain the sole property of Rook Media. Rook Media grants the client a perpetual, non-exclusive license to use such components as incorporated into the delivered website.
• Third-Party Assets: Certain elements of a project may incorporate licensed third-party assets (stock photos, icon libraries, fonts, plugins). Rook Media will disclose such usage and the client is responsible for maintaining any required licenses after project delivery.
• Portfolio Rights: Rook Media reserves the right to display completed client projects in our portfolio and marketing materials unless the client requests otherwise in writing prior to project launch.

Both parties agree to treat certain information as confidential:

• Client Information: Rook Media will keep confidential any non-public business information, strategies, customer data, financial details, or other sensitive materials shared by the client in the course of the engagement. We will not disclose such information to third parties except as required to deliver the services or as required by law.
• Rook Media Proprietary Information: Clients agree not to disclose, reproduce, or share any proprietary processes, pricing structures, templates, or internal documentation shared by Rook Media in the course of the engagement.
• Login Credentials: Any access credentials shared between parties will be stored securely, used only for the purposes of the engagement, and not shared with unauthorized parties.
• Duration: Confidentiality obligations survive the termination of the client relationship for a period of two (2) years, or indefinitely for any information that constitutes a trade secret under applicable law.

Confidentiality obligations do not apply to information that is publicly available, independently developed, or required to be disclosed by law or court order.

Rook Media is committed to delivering high-quality work designed to improve your online presence and generate leads. However, we make no guarantee of specific business outcomes, including but not limited to:

• A specific number of leads, phone calls, form submissions, or new clients.
• Achieving or maintaining a specific search engine ranking position on Google or other platforms.
• A specific return on investment or revenue increase attributable to our services.
• Uninterrupted or error-free operation of third-party platforms (Google, Cloudflare, Stripe, etc.) used in connection with our services.

Search engine algorithms, market conditions, competitive landscapes, and user behavior are dynamic factors outside our control. Rook Media applies proven best practices and professional judgment to maximize outcomes, but past results for other clients are not a guarantee of future results for your business.

Any performance projections or estimates provided during the sales process are good-faith estimates only and do not constitute a contractual commitment.

Client agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Rook Media LLC, its owner, employees, contractors, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to:

• Content, materials, logos, copy, images, or other assets provided by the Client and incorporated into the Client's website or marketing materials;
• Any claim that Client-supplied materials infringe upon, misappropriate, or violate the intellectual property rights, privacy rights, or publicity rights of any third party;
• The Client's use of the delivered website, including any business activities, transactions, or communications conducted through it;
• The Client's violation of any applicable law, regulation, or third-party right; and
• Any breach by the Client of these Terms of Service or a separate service agreement.

Rook Media will provide the Client with prompt written notice of any claim subject to indemnification and reasonable cooperation in the defense of such claim, at the Client's expense.

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Rook Media LLC, its owner, and its affiliates shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of our services, including but not limited to:

• Loss of revenue, profits, or business opportunities.
• Loss of data or corruption of data, including website content.
• Damages arising from third-party service outages or failures (hosting, payment processors, scheduling tools, etc.).
• Damages arising from unauthorized access to your systems or data despite reasonable security measures.
• Errors or inaccuracies in content provided by the client and published on your website.

In no event shall Rook Media's total cumulative liability to any client for any claims arising out of or related to the services exceed the total amount paid by that client to Rook Media in the three (3) months immediately preceding the event giving rise to the claim.

Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations of liability. In such cases, our liability will be limited to the maximum extent permitted by law.

Rook Media shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance arising from causes beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to: outages or service interruptions of third-party providers (Cloudflare, Stripe, Google, hosting providers, domain registrars); internet or telecommunications failures; cyberattacks or denial-of-service attacks; acts of God, fire, flood, or natural disasters; war, terrorism, or civil unrest; labor disputes; pandemic or government-ordered shutdowns; or changes in applicable law or regulation. In the event of a force majeure event lasting more than thirty (30) days, either party may terminate the affected services with written notice, and Rook Media will provide a pro-rata refund of any prepaid fees for services not yet delivered.

Either party may terminate the service relationship under the following conditions:

• Termination by Client (Project): If a client terminates an in-progress project, the initial 50% deposit is non-refundable. If work beyond the deposit scope has been completed, Rook Media reserves the right to invoice for the portion of work completed, prorated against the total project fee.
• Termination by Client (Monthly Retainer): Monthly retainer agreements may be cancelled with 30 days' written notice to [email protected]. The client will continue to receive services and be billed through the end of the current billing cycle. No partial-month refunds are issued.
• Termination by Rook Media: Rook Media reserves the right to terminate services immediately and without refund in the event of: non-payment of any invoice past 30 days; abusive, threatening, or unlawful conduct directed at Rook Media or its representatives; or the client requesting work that violates applicable law or third-party rights.
• Effect of Termination: Upon termination, all outstanding invoices become immediately due and payable. Rook Media will provide the client with access to all completed deliverables for which full payment has been received. Deliverables tied to unpaid balances will not be transferred until payment is received.
• Survival: The following sections survive any termination of services and remain in full force: Intellectual Property; Confidentiality; No Guarantee of Specific Results; Indemnification; Limitation of Liability; Governing Law; and any provisions that by their nature are intended to survive.

Client's domain, content, and data will be made available for transfer within a reasonable timeframe following termination and settlement of any outstanding balance.

These Terms of Service and any disputes arising out of or related to the services provided by Rook Media LLC shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Any legal action or proceeding arising under these Terms shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Both parties consent to the personal jurisdiction and venue of such courts.

In the event of a dispute, both parties agree to first attempt resolution through good-faith negotiation. If a dispute cannot be resolved informally within 30 days, either party may pursue formal legal remedies.

Rook Media reserves the right to modify these Terms of Service at any time. When material changes are made, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.
• Notify active clients via email of any changes that materially affect their rights or obligations.

Your continued use of Rook Media's services after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms of Service. We encourage you to review this page periodically. If you do not agree to the revised terms, you may terminate your engagement with 30 days' written notice as described in the Termination section above.

• Entire Agreement: These Terms of Service, together with any signed service agreement and our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between the Client and Rook Media regarding the services and supersede all prior or contemporaneous communications, proposals, and agreements, whether oral or written, except for written change orders signed by both parties.
• Severability: If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect, and the invalid provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable while preserving the original intent.
• Assignment: The Client may not assign or transfer these Terms or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of Rook Media. Rook Media may assign these Terms to a successor entity in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets without the Client's consent.
• No Waiver: The failure of either party to enforce any provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that provision or any other provision.
• Independent Contractor Relationship: Rook Media operates as an independent service provider. Sales, account management, and project work may be performed by employees or independent contractors authorized to act on Rook Media's behalf. Nothing in these Terms creates a partnership, joint venture, employment, or agency relationship between Rook Media and the Client.

If you have any questions, concerns, or disputes related to these Terms of Service, please contact us directly:

• Business: Rook Media LLC
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: rookmedia.agency
• Mailing Address: Charlotte, NC

We are committed to resolving any concerns quickly and professionally. For billing-related questions or service disputes, please reach out by email and we will respond within 2 business days.